<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<head>
    <title>Sir Mustapha's Reviews: The ratings</title>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
    <meta name="Author" content="Fernando H. Canto" />
    <meta name="Keywords" content="reviews, albums, music, Fernie Canto, Sir Mustapha, Fernando Canto" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" title="Classic Blue" href="code/classic.css" />
    <link rel="alternate stylesheet" title="Plainish" href="code/plain.css" />
</head>

<body>

<h1>
    The album ratings!
</h1>

<p>One crucial part of my album reviews are the ratings. My intention with the ratings is basically "sum up" my feelings towards the album in a scale ranging from 0 to 10, in steps of 0.5 . I developed this system to make the ratings easy to visualize (everybody is used to scales from 0 to 10, anyway), <em>and</em> provide a good number of possible grades (21). I felt the need to come up with such system by visiting other reviews sites. Mark Prindle also uses a 1 to 10 scale, but in steps of 1. Since his focus is not in the ratings per se, but in the reviews, the rating system is efficient. But for me, 10 possible grades is not enough. George Starostin came up with an interesting alternative, to give a rating to the bands, and adding this value to the album ratings, forming an "overall rating" from 1 to 15. Each reviewer probably feels comfortable with his own system, but I just felt like making up my own, and I feel comfortable with it, and I hope you feel comfortable with it too.</p>

<p>I'll provide an explanation to each grade here, and the list of albums sorted by rating, and alphabetically.</p>

<h2>11: The Top of the League</h2>

<p>Seriously, there is no other album in the world that I can enjoy more than these. Mind you, there are only <em>two</em> albums that get that rating. and that leaves them with a rather "special" share of my heart. Yes, these albums are <em>all</em> that good... at least, to my ears, anyway. They are:</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#amarok">Amarok</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#moon">Dark Side Of The Moon</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
</ol>

<h2>10: The Best</h2>

<p>Only one album per band can have a rating of 10, as my favourite. It's not that <em>every</em> band has a 10-worthy album (Oasis!), though. Sometimes, the 10 rating is merely symbolic - to represent my favourite album of that artist, for one reason or another. Other times, they will truly mean something, as in "this is really a spectacular album". Read the reviews to sort them out.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="ros.htm#p">( )</a>, Sigur R&oacute;s</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#road">Abbey Road</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="builder.htm#album">Bob The Builder: The Album</a>, Bob The Builder</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#disintegration">Disintegration</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#distante">Equilibrio Distante</a>, Renato Russo</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#equinoxe">Equinoxe</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#exodus">Exodus</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#music">Fear Of Music</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#fragile">Fragile</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#backwards">Grown Backwards</a>, David Byrne</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#jets">Here Come The Warm Jets</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#aspic">Larks' Tongues In Aspic</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#residents">Meet The Residents</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#pictures">Moving Pictures</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#brasil">O Descobrimento Do Brasil</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#computer">OK Computer</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#flag">Pink Flag</a>, Wire</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#quadrophenia">Quadrophenia</a>, The Who</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#queen2">Queen II</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#pound">Selling England By The Pound</a>, Genesis</li>
  <li><a href="simpsons.htm#blues">The Simpsons Sing The Blues</a>, The Simpsons</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#fire">The Unforgettable Fire</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#brick">Thick As A Brick</a>, Jethro Tull</li>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#children">To Our Children's Children's Children</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#express">Trans-Europe Express</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#replica">Trout Mask Replica</a>, Captain Beefheart</li>
</ol>

<h2>9 and 9.5: Superb</h2>

<p>Well, what can I say? These are awesome albums! Worthy inclusions in your collection, if you have any vacant spaces.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#opera">A Night At The Opera</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="ros.htm#byrjun">&Aacute;g&aelig;tis Byrjun</a>, Sigur R&oacute;s</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#mirror">Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mirror</a>, Harold Budd &amp; Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#animals">Animals</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#world">Another Green World</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#estacoes">As Quatro Esta&ccedil;&otilde;es</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#autobahn">Autobahn</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#science">Before And After Science</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#boy">Boy</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#fire">Catch A Fire</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#missing">Chairs Missing</a>, Wire</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#edge">Close To The Edge</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#world">Computer World</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#passed">Days Of Future Passed</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#straits">Dire Straits</a>, Dire Straits</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#discipline">Discipline</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#stab">Duck Stab</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#glen">Duck Stab / Buster And Glen</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="cranberries.htm#we">Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?</a>, The Cranberries</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#faith">Faith</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#foxtrot">Foxtrot</a>, Genesis</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#persons">God In Three Persons</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#one">Going For The One</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#thief">Hail To The Thief</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#open">Heaven's Open</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#hemispheres">Hemispheres</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#ridge">Hergest Ridge</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#incantations">Incantations</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#jazz">Jazz</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#a">Kid A</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#meddle">Meddle</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#dread">Natty Dread</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#oxygene">Oxyg&egrave;ne</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#waves">Permanent Waves</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#gabriel3">Peter Gabriel (3)</a>, Peter Gabriel</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#platinum">Platinum</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#red">Red</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#momo">Rei Momo</a>, David Byrne</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#light">Remain In Light</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#revolver">Revolver</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#soul">Rubber Soul</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#band">Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#signals">Signals</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#fingers">Sticky Fingers</a>, The Rolling Stones</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#laughs">The Madcap Laughs</a>, Syd Barrett</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#machine">The Man Machine</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#bells">Tubular Bells</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="division.htm#pleasures">Unknown Pleasures</a>, Joy Division</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#v">V</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#here">Wish You Were Here</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#rush2112">2112</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#kings">A Farewell To Kings</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#night">A Hard Day's Night</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#play">A Passion Play</a>, Jethro Tull</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#land">Ambient 4: On Land</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#amnesiac">Amnesiac</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#soundtracks">Apollo - Atmospheres &amp; Soundtracks</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#babyfingers">Babyfingers</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#blonde">Blonde On Blonde</a>, Bob Dylan</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#burnin">Burnin'</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#chronologie">Chronologie</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#confrontation">Confrontation</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#crises">Crises</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#dois">Dois</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#eskimo">Eskimo</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#help">Help!</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#king">In The Court Of The Crimson King</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#kaya">Kaya</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#me">Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#urbana">Legi&atilde;o Urbana</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#magnetiques">Les Chants Magn&egrave;tiques</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#baby">Lick My Decals Off, Baby</a>, Captain Beefheart</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#gold">Love Over Gold</a>, Dire Straits</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#ommadawn">Ommadawn</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#tour">Magical Mystery Tour</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#naked">Naked</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="cranberries.htm#argue">No Need To Argue</a>, The Cranberries</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#masters2">Past Masters, Vol 2</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#gabriel1">Peter Gabriel (1)</a>, Peter Gabriel</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#gabriel2">Peter Gabriel (2)</a>, Peter Gabriel</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#dawn">Piper At The Gates Of Dawn</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#presto">Presto</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#aktivitat">Radio-Aktivit&auml;t</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#relayer">Relayer</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#mountain">Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#oceans">Tales From Topographic Oceans</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#heads77">Talking Heads: 77</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#door">The Head On The Door</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#tree">The Joshua Tree</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#album">The Residents Commercial Album</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#roll">The Third Reich 'n' Roll</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="simpsons.htm#album">The Yellow Album</a>, The Simpsons</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#boys">Three Imaginary Boys</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#tommy">Tommy</a>, The Who</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#ummagumma">Ummagumma</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#trails">Vapor Trails</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="oasis.htm#glory">(What's The Story) Morning Glory?</a>, Oasis</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#next">Who's Next</a>, The Who</li>
</ol>

<h2>8 and 8.5: Highly Recommended</h2>

<p>These are albums I really like, but they're not high enough to get in the 'serious' league. Very good albums, but that's mostly that.</p>

<ol>

  <li><a href="queen.htm#races">A Day At The Races</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#aqualung">Aqualung</a>, Jethro Tull</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#beast">Broadsword And The Beast</a>, Jethro Tull</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#arms">Brothers In Arms</a>, Dire Straits</li>
  <li><a href="cranberries.htm#hatchet">Bury The Hatchet</a>, The Cranberries</li>
  <li><a href="division.htm#closer">Closer</a>, Joy Division</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#fingerprince">Fingerprince</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#love">Geometry Of Love</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#innuendo">Innuendo</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#be">Let It Be</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#metamorphoses">Metamorphoses</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#food">More Songs About Buildings And Food</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#ghosts">My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts</a>, Brian Eno &amp; David Byrne</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#cryme">Nursery Cryme</a>, Genesis</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#clouds">Obscured By Clouds</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#october">October</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#masters1">Past Masters, Vol 1</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#pornography">Pornography</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#windows">Power Windows</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#queen">Queen</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#florian">Ralf Und Florian</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#vibration">Rastaman Vibration</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#vous">Rendez-Vous</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#sojourn">Seventh Sojourn</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#attack">Sheer Heart Attack</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#tongues">Speaking In Tongues</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#thebeatles">The Beatles</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#cut">The Final Cut</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#broadway">The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway</a>, Genesis</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#obells">The Orchestral Tubular Bells</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#top">The Top</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="yes.htm#album">The Yes Album</a>, Yes</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#out">The Who Sell Out</a>, The Who</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#soundtracks">Tour De France Soundtracks</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#estacao">Uma Outra Estacao</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#uprising">Uprising</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#wish">Wish</a>, The Cure</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#balance">A Question Of Balance</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#secrets">A Saucerful Of Secrets</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#tempestade">A Tempestade (ou O Livro Dos Dias)</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#baby">Achtung Baby</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#mother">Atom Heart Mother</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#sale">Beatles For Sale</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#bloodflowers">Bloodflowers</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#steel">Caress Of Steel</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#discovery">Discovery</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#cousteau">En Attendant Cousteau</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#star">Evening Star</a>, Fripp &amp; Eno</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#night">Fly By Night</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#whispers">Japanese Whispers</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#heaven">Made In Heaven</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#more">More</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#available">Not Available</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#dream">On The Threshold Of A Dream</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#oxygene7-13">Oxyg&egrave;ne 7-13</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#honey">Pablo Honey</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#qe2">QE2</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#rush">Rush</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="residents.htm#dog">Santa Dog</a>, The Residents</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#black">Starless And Bible Black</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="marley.htm#survival">Survival</a>, Bob Marley</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#cure">The Cure</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#game">The Game</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#works">The Works</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#hitchhiking">The Pros And Cons Of Hitchhiking</a>, Roger Waters</li>
  <li><a href="ros.htm#von">Von</a>, Sigur R&oacute;s</li>
  <li><a href="cranberries.htm#coffee">Wake Up And Smell The Coffee</a>, The Cranberries</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#war">War</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#beatles">With The Beatles</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#zoolook">Zoolook</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
</ol>

<h2>7 and 7.5: Quite Good</h2>

<p>An annoying rating. These are good albums, but a couple of albums are here mostly because I think they're <em>really</em> overrated (<strong>Five Miles Out</strong>, <strong>The Bends</strong>). These <em>are</em> good albums, but I never had any serious love for them.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oasis.htm#maybe">Definitely Maybe</a>, Oasis</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#space">Hot Space</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="blues.htm#chord">In Search Of The Lost Chord</a>, The Moody Blues</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#islands">Islands</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#islands">Islands</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#kraftwerk2">Kraftwerk 2</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#world">News Of The World</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#gabriel4">Peter Gabriel (4)</a>, Peter Gabriel</li>
  <li><a href="beatles.htm#me">Please Please Me</a>, The Beatles</li>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#este">Que Pa&iacute;s &Eacute; Este 1978-1987</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#revolutions">Revolutions</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#seconds">Seventeen Seconds</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="radiohead.htm#bends">The Bends</a>, Radiohead</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#bell">The Division Bell</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#miracle">The Miracle</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#fields">The Killing Fields</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#wall">The Wall</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="cranberries.htm#departed">To The Faithful Departed</a>, The Cranberries</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#stories">True Stories</a>, Talking Heads</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#out">Five Miles Out</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="rush.htm#fire">Hold Your Fire</a>, Rush</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#kraftwerk">Kraftwerk</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="heads.htm#creatures">Little Creatures</a>, Talking Heads</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#lizard">Lizard</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#earth">The Songs Of Distant Earth</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#thrak">THRAK</a>, King Crimson</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#bells2003">Tubular Bells 2003</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#swings">Wild Mood Swings</a>, The Cure</li>
</ol>

<h2>6 and 6.5: Above Average</h2>

<p>Kinda good, you know? One step away from being "middle-of-the-road". Albums that push it in the "good" direction, but that are just "okay", and hardly anything more.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="queen.htm#magic">A Kind Of Magic</a>, Queen</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#airports">Ambient 1: Music For Airports</a>, Brian Eno</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#voyager">Voyager</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#zooropa">Zooropa</a>, U2</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oasis.htm#now">Be Here Now</a>, Oasis</li>
  <li><a href="kraftwerk.htm#cafe">Electric Cafe</a>, Kraftwerk</li>
  <li><a href="jarre.htm#sessions2000">Sessions 2000</a>, Jean Michel Jarre</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#so">So</a>, Peter Gabriel</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#lunas">Tr3s Lunas</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
</ol>

<h2>5 and 5.5: Mediocre</h2>

<p>Middle of the road. Standing exactly between <em>good</em> and <em>bad</em>. Naturally, a 5.5 has a slight tendency towards <em>good</em> (<strong>Guitars</strong>), and a 5 has a slight tendency towards <em>bad</em>. But these are, in general, mediocre albums.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#moving">Earth Moving</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#pop">Pop</a>, U2</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#guitars">Guitars</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
  <li><a href="various.htm#bleed">Let It Bleed</a>, The Rolling Stones</li>
</ol>

<h2>4 and 4.5: Quite Bad</h2>

<p>Mainly these are albums that do rank as "bad", but only slightly. They're subpar material, but nothing <em>offensive</em>, we shall say. Still, they give me enough reasons for me not to want to listen to them (<strong>Tubular Bells II</strong>).</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#lunas2">Tr3s Lunas II</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
</ol>

<ol>
  <li><a href="floyd.htm#reason">A Momentary Lapse Of Reason</a>, Pink Floyd</li>
  <li><a href="u2.htm#behind">All That You Can't Leave Behind</a>, U2</li>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#bells2">Tubular Bells II</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
</ol>

<h2>3 and 3.5: Bad</h2>

<p>Yeah, that's it. This is where the albums start getting to the <em>offensive</em> level of "bad". Albums that I really dislike, and are almost in the verge of making me <em>hate</em> them.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#bells3">Tubular Bells III</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
</ol>

<h2>2 and 2.5: Very Bad</h2>

<p>Oh, yeah! This is prime garbage. Vintage, stinky garbage. I'd probably pay to forget about the existance of albums given this rating.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="oldfield.htm#bell">The Millennium Bell</a>, Mike Oldfield</li>
</ol>

<h2>1 and 1.5: Shit</h2>

<p>This is it. The absolute nadir of musicmaking. This is not just "bad", it's horrible, wicked, vomit-inducing, soul-corrupting and mind-twisting. Only an absolute <em>bastard</em> can make an album like this and think he can <em>release</em> it (Creed).</p>

<h2>0 and 0.5: ???</h2>

<p>This is a rating reserved for special cases, most probably. Either these albums are <em>intentionally</em> bad (think of <strong>Metal Machine Music</strong>), or are <em>really special</em> cases of "horrible" albums. I doubt any album can <em>genuinely</em> sound this bad.</p>

<h2>Unrated</h2>

<p>These are... albums that I simply can't rate. Either because I can't find any criteria to rate them along with other albums, or just albums that I just don't want to rate.</p>

<ol>
  <li><a href="urbana.htm#mtv">Ac&uacute;stico MTV</a>, Legi&atilde;o Urbana</li>
  <li><a href="cure.htm#visors">Carnage Visors</a>, The Cure</li>
  <li><a href="simpsons.htm#simpsons">Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons</a>, The Simpsons</li>
  <li><a href="eno.htm#pussyfooting">(No Pussyfooting)</a>, Fripp &amp; Eno</li>
  <li><a href="simpsons.htm#springfield">Songs In The Key Of Springfield</a>, The Simpsons</li>
</ol>

<p>Total of reviewed albums: <big>248</big></p>

<h2 class="artistHeader">An explanation on the ratings system</h2>

<p>Album ratings, in no circumstances, should be considered as absolute, unequivocal measures of how good an album really is. They are merely a device I use for comparing albums, according to my personal tastes. I'm not trying to list the "20 Best Albums Of All Time" or something here. This is <em>not</em> Pitchfork Media or Rolling Stone. Don't take these ratings too seriously: they just represent how these albums are "ordered" inside my head.</p>

<p>The albums are evaluated based on five aspects, based on how I perceive an album:<br />
<big>Fun Factor:</big> It represents how much I can genuinely <em>enjoy</em> an album. It's a totally subjective rating, and there are several reasons why an album can be fun or not.<br />
<big>Resonance:</big> Another subjective rating, it relates to the emotional response an album causes on me: sadness, joy, excitement, peace, anger, or anything else. It an album causes true emotions on me, this rating will be high.<br />
<big>Originality:</big> A slightly more objective rating, now. This one tells whether an album is truly unique and creeative, or at least if its ideas are fresh and new. I have no much use for albums that sound exactly the same as others.<br />
<big>Richness:</big> Also slightly more objective, it reflects the <em>amount</em> and <em>quality</em> of the musical ideas in an album. Melodies, themes, riffs, good lyrics, atmospheres: these are what count here.<br />
<big>Solidness:</big> It basically tells if an album truly holds up as a solid unit - consistence, fluidness, tightness. I particularly like albums like that.</p>

<p>That math isn't always 100% perfect for reflecting my true feelings for an album. So, in a few cases, I give out <big>Bonuses</big> for certain albums, in order to increase or decrease the overall rating for some reason or other. Those reasons can be various, and most times, highly personal. The truth is, I give out Bonuses 'cause I can. The five grades are calculated to an average, added to the Bonuses - if there are any - and then rounded up or down into the final rating.</p>

<p>Of course, you are free to <a href="mailto:sirmustapha@gmail.com">mail me</a> any comments you have about my reviews and/or the albums/artists I have reviewed. Anything you may want to add will be accepted, and I generally value the polite, well-thought-out personal opinions over the baseless, mindless flames. I am not afraid of flames, but I don't respect those who don't try to respect me. If you just don't like my reviews, just tell me why and give me a good reason. Flame me, and you will show the whole world what a moron you are. If you just don't like me... hey, chill out, this is only the Internet, innit?</p>

<p>By convention, all album titles are written in <strong>bold</strong>, and song titles are enclosed in 'single quotes'. You are <em>not</em> obliged to follow the same convention when you send your comments, nor are you obliged to adopt my rating system to rate albums. Simply be yourself, and we'll be fine.</p>

<p><a href="index.htm">Back to the Reviews Page index</a></p>

<p>
  <a href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer"><img
      src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/valid-xhtml10"
      alt="Valid XHTML 1.0!" height="31" width="88" /></a>
</p>

</body>

</html>